Okay, so I am sick of people around me saying that i’m “too thin!” and that I should constantly “eat more!”. Summer is round the corner (I live in Australia) and I am over my skinny look. I think I will look healthier too with some definition. So I intend to tone up. I want to tone my arms (because they are now thin but “flabby”) in particular but also the rest of my body.

Thing is, I do not want to bulk up – end up looking like a female bodybuilder etc – and I am also afraid that if I do build muscles and don’t maintain them, they will eventually convert to fat and I might’ve been better off staying skinny to start with. Anyone to debunk this myth?

I don’t know where to start – I’ve purchased a set of weights on sale though. Can anyone throw me any suggestions on where to begin, or point me in the right direction? I am also curious to know if anyone else has gone from skinny to fit looking or if you’re going through the same thing as I. Any help would be appreciated! :)

My first question is how old are you? If you’re under 18, your skinniness might just be due to the fact your body is still developing. If you’re over 18 it might just be your body type!

Either way, you’re definitely on the right track :) adding weight by lifting weights and eating well is definitely something I recommend when girls are worried about being underweight. Eat lots of high-protein foods and complex carbs. And the thing about muscles turning to fat is a common misconception. It doesn’t, like, melt and become fat. Usually what happens is that when people discontinue strenuous work-out routines, they continue eating the same way they were when they were on the program, but they’re not burning the calories, so they gain weight. It happens to NFL players a lot.

One last note, don’t listen to what people say. Ask them if they would say the same thing to you if you were fat. Most people wouldn’t! I know this is totally cliche, but you should love your body no matter what shape it is!

it’s a huge myth that if you exercise you’ll turn into a grotesquely muscular body builder. you have to be reaallly dedicated to bulk up. my mom’s exercised daily ever since I can remember, but she never bulked up or had really visible muscles.

muscles atrophy with disuse, they don’t turn into fat cells. but if you consume an excess amount of protein that doesn’t end up being burned off, it will be stored. like catiebeatty said, if you eat like Michael Phelps but don’t exercise like Michael Phelps, you’re not going to look like Michael Phelps lol

You shouldn’t be ashamed of being skinny-people who call you anorexic are simply jealous, believe me. However, if you want to start being more active it is definitely worth it, if only for health reasons. I don’t think that if you are naturally a skinny chic that you have much danger of bulking up. To do that, you would have to go on an extreme protein-based diet AND have really specialised exercises for bulking up. So don’t worry about it, and just do whatever you find most fun!

I agree, they are probably jealous. To train with weights, you want low weight on the bar(s) and do more repetitions at that weight. Lighter & more. That will tone your muscles, not make you a hulk. There are lots of paperbacks about training with free weights, as they are called. Just do it!

I’m the same way!! I am always trying to put on some healthy weight and muscle definition but haven’t ever really succeeded. I think one of the most important things is to eat healthy. Other than that, just know that you are who you are and that people don’t have the right to judge you :)

Unfortunately, people do fail to realize that there are STILL people being ridiculed for being “too thin” even though it could be just having high metabolism.

I agree with Catie, if you’re under 18 it could be just the body adjusting and I wouldn’t worry about it since it is the ‘natural way’ for the body do be changing on a constant basis until around 21 I would say.

I would still recommend eating healthy, healthy food even though this is an old adage and everybody keeps saying it. Everybody keeps saying it for a reason, hehe.

Also, just like Haylie, building up the mentality to tell yourself that this is your body and that it’s the natural way of growing so a strong focus on that will help a lot when people say something negative about that. : )

Thanks for the replies. To answer some of your questions, I am 24 years old so definitely well over the puberty stage. Admittedly I do have a petite frame, however, I would like to look more “fit” than “skinny”. I don’t think people say I’m skinny because they’re jealous though, because some who say that are guys (my guy friends).
I used to not get affected by these comments, however, as I grow older I realise that I want to look more like a woman than a child (doesn’t help that I have a baby face)..